Mark Burke don spend almost 40 years with Hitchin Town, from player to manager to community boss. Na real club legend.
Burke first join Hitchin from Queens Park Rangers for 1985, after time for Luton Town youth team where e play alongside stars like Tim Breaker, Stacey North, Mitchell Thomas, Garry Parker, Mark Stein, Kingsley Black and David Oldfield. Dem all later play for David Pleat first team for Luton and other top clubs.
Luton legend Alan West, wey be player-manager for Hitchin at dat time, sign am. E make im league debut for opening day of 1985/86 season away to Bognor Regis, alongside Paul Giggle, wey go become record appearance maker for club.
Burke establish imself for first team for Step 2 for several seasons before Hitchin drop to Step 3 for 1987/88 after home defeat to champions Yeovil Town. E become captain under Steve Norris and Bill Baldry for early 1990s. After near misses, Hitchin finally win Isthmian Division 1 title for 1992/93, with Burke lift trophy alongside former Luton players Paul Price, Littlewoods Cup winner Rob Johnson, and even Ricky Hill wey play few matches under manager Andy Melvin and assistant Robin Wainwright.
Mid-90s be one of most successful periods for club. Burke lead team to top of Step 2, beat Hereford United for FA Cup, then Bristol Rovers for Match of the Day cameras at Top Field, and win Herts Senior Cup first time for 20 years by defeating Boreham Wood 4-1, with Burke score opening goal.
Two serious knee injuries sideline am for long time, and Hitchin drop to Step 3 again for 1997/98. But dem bounce back straight, finish runners-up to Canvey Island for 1998/99, with players like Zema Abbey and Chris McMenamin wey later play for Norwich City and Coventry City.
Burke final years be as squad player, helping young players from scholarship programme. E bow out for 30 April 2005 away to Stamford alongside Hitchin legend Ian Scott. Overall, e make 731 appearances and score 20 goals for 20-year career, holding club league appearance record, plus league title, promotion, FA Cup giant killings, and Senior Cup win.
After playing, e start Football in the Community scheme with holiday camps and school coaching, wey e develop over next 5 years. Di scheme, including college programme and Ability Counts projects, still dey flourish, and e still dey oversee am.
For summer 2010, former player Charlie Williams become first team manager and recruit Burke as assistant. Dem win promotion to Step 3 via play-off final win against Daventry Town for 2010/11, then consolidate for two years before Charlie resign. Burke take charge for 2013/14 season, appoint Adam Parker as assistant. Dem tenure last 10 seasons, reach Herts Senior Cup final three times, win two times against Boreham Wood (2016) and Bishops Stortford (2017). Dem also win Herts Charity Cup twice against Hemel Hempstead Town (2018, 2019) and Southern League Cup for 2018 against Didcot Town.
For Southern League Premier Division, standout seasons be 2015/16 and 2016/17, wey Hitchin finish for play-off positions but miss promotion, losing to Hungerford for semi-final for 2016 after leading 2-0, and to Leamington for 2017 after being one minute away from winning.
For first time for over 30 years, Burke steer Hitchin past Leatherhead in replay to set up FA Cup first round tie against Solihull Moors at Top Field, wey feature on BBC coverage. Despite packed crowd, dem no fit recreate 90s glory, but still big achievement.
Throughout im time as manager, e and Parks develop many young players wey progress to higher level. E resign for 2024 but remain part of club, overseeing community scheme expansion.
Now, for Saturday 11 July 2026, Hitchin Town go host Luton Town for testimonial match at Top Field. E no be just friendly; na celebration of Mark Burke long service. Dem go get mini-games between former Luton and Hitchin players, with Jack Wilshere feature, and Mick Harford and Wayne Turner manage ex-Luton side. Di day go end with party for club house wey go include viewing World Cup quarter-final between Norway and England.
